Speech [Council of Experts and ratification of the constitution; plots of the splinter groups in proposing non-basic issues]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

The issues that you have now put forward, most of them or the majority of them or all of them I am aware of; I am also aware of your educational problems; but I feel that these gatherings that are being held here over the past few days and in some of which non-basic issues are propounded; it follows a plot that these groups who come here are unaware of. Now, we have some fundamental issues that if we do not pay attention to them; if all the strata of people- whether men or women- do not pay attention to them, it is possible that our fundamental issues and the basis of our independence will be jeopardized.

Today, we must focus all our attention on drafting the constitution and electing the experts. In the constitution it has been proposed that those who are eligible to vote should vote and criticize; something that needs to be added should be added; something that needs to be eliminated, should be eliminated; if some condition is to be added, if a term is to be stipulated, they should review these things and note them down and hand them over to the Senate that has now been charged for this task.

Pursuant to that, they should be aware that the destiny of our country and the destiny of Islam are in the hands of these experts; in the election of those experts who must be elected. Focus on what type of individuals must be elected; individuals who are pious; individuals who regard Islam to be applicable with the present; not that they should say that it is an Islam of 1,400 years ago and is of no use now; they should not be leftists; they should not be rightists; they should be trustworthy and so forth. They should be knowledgeable of the situation; knowledgeable of Islam; they should be Islamologists. You should select from such individuals so that they go and study the constitution and this draft that has been proposed should be rectified by them and that is the time then to put it to the vote of the people.

To concentrate now on secondary issues which must be proposed pursuant to the primary issues is not expedient at present. Rather, in these few days when the discussion is about the constitution, I observe that various individuals and groups come and air their grievances from all around; and then other issues are being proposed in the newspapers and magazines, and it appears that a plot is at work that wants to divert the minds of the nation from the constitution- which is the basis- to other matters be they justified or not so that they attain their objectives while we are also preoccupied with a controversial issue which they have created; trivial matters and local needs which is to divert our minds from the primary constitution, election of the experts and later, the National Consultative Assembly- that must be decided later- and the president who must be elected. These are the basis of the country such that if we are negligent of them, it is likely that we revert to the situation that we hope we do not revert to.

Therefore, I request all of you- although your problems are right and justified- to be a little bit patient in these affairs and give time for these affairs and now concentrate fully with all your strength, on these fundamental issues.

If these fundamental issues are resolved and we have a national consultative assembly, not a consultative assembly like in former times; a consultative assembly that is composed of upright individuals; of individuals who are Islamic, if such an assembly is established then all these issues shall be resolved. I know that now there are various individuals from various strata who are not qualified; but now is not the time to raise our voice. Now is not the time to create differences. They are creating differences from all around; in the cities, on the borders; in Kurdistan and in other places.

Now, the people who do not want this movement to move forward are seeking to create differences. Just today, if you heard, it was announced on the radio that in the town of Marivan fighting has erupted and some twenty or more have been killed. This is a plot; these are created by those persons that do not want this movement to reach its destination and our constitution to be written. There in one form, at the center in another form; in the factories in yet another form, and in everyplace in some other form.

Now, the plots are afoot in order not to allow this movement to reach its destination; and prevent us from writing the final draft of the constitution and an elected government to be formed to set all things right. Now, in my view, other things whatever they may be are secondary. The primary task to be accomplished now is that each one of you who is an expert in the field should study the constitution and give your views; and next focus on casting your vote for individuals who are pious, individuals who are upright; individuals who are Islamic; individuals whom you know are Muslims and pious and lean neither to the left nor to the right; nominate these individuals so that they study this constitution. After it has been reviewed, and the final draft written, then cast your vote on it. We have passed this stage so that now we have a constitution and the Consultative Assembly shall follow and then, God willing, and through the efforts of the nation, a national and proper one with full authority is to be elected by the people to give their opinions on the affairs. Then, we must mention also what type of individuals is to be nominated. In any case, now is the time for this issue. I am aware that there are problems. It is not only you who have problems, we too have problems; all the strata of people have problems; they come from all over and tell me about their problems; but at this stage we must tone down our grievances a little bit; for the time being, we must ignore them a little. These problems must now be overlooked a little bit so that, God willing, these issues are resolved; then we should look into those problems and see what we must do about them; what must happen to our education system? In our education, too, there are shortcomings; not only in your education.

God willing, I hope that all of you are successful and healthy. You should take action about what I have mentioned. Now, when you get up to go you should reflect on the individuals whom you want to nominate and they should be of the pious. It is possible that some individuals from among the `ulama' of Tehran get elected; in other words, they should be proposed for nomination; and that what the `ulama' of Tehran determine is correct. May you all be healthy and successful, by the will of God.